Mass flow meter



Aug- 24, 1955 A. c. ACKERMAN 3,201,987

MASS FLOW METER Filed Oct. 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTHUR CHARLES ACKERMAN BY mi@ ATTORNEY Aug- 24, 1965 A. c. AGKERMAN 3,201,987

MAS S FLOW METER CONTROL LOOP INPUT LOOP BIAS CONTROL LOOP f SIGNAL COMPARATOR MASS FLOW TOTALIZER MASS FLOW RATE T DISPLAY 56 COMPUTER l GODER kf l GODER f NO.| No.2 COUNTER fz COUNTER JZ T 0;/ T fo/@@ TQQ f@ NO.: No.2 30 SIGNAL s|GNA| -J4 GENERATOR GENERATOR EL |D El. /Z

u ow DEGOUPLING 'JT LOAD /-J N' N2 f(NZ) (ETH V525/ l FIG?) INVENTOR. ARTHUR CHARLES ACKERMAN BY @fw AT TORNEY This invention relates to a turbine type inferential mass flow meter which reports the mass rate of flow of fluids,

eitherliquid or gas, or a combination.

Turbine-type mass flow meters In one turbine-type, true mass flow meter, an impeller is driven at a constant speed of rotation to impart an angular velocity to the Huid to be measured. A turbine is arranged to intercept the moving iiuid and is acted upon by the moving fluid in proportion to the momentum of the fluid. Deflection of the turbine is restrained by resilient means and the degree of the deflection serves as an indication of the mass ilow rate of the fluid.

Conventional turbine type, inferential flow meters may employ shaped surfaces, strain gages or piezo crystal transducers, and control loop circuitry to obtain the desired indication of mass flow rate of the fluid. The operational theory of these devices is usually based upon Variations of the force-mass momentum relationship. They are generally characterized by complicated mechanical Aand electrical mechanisms and as such are limited by manufacturing tolerances and the requirement of precision regulation of the power supply.

T he fow meter of the present invention The flow meter of the present invention employs two turbines, and operates in an entirely different manner than the conventional types. The first turbine is a freerunning turbine that is operated, not 'by independent means las an impeller, but by the fluid to be measured. The. iiuid then passes through a ilow decoupling device before reaching the second turbine. The second turbine is loaded in such a manner that the power generated by it is a known function of its speed. It too is operated r'by the uid to be measured and not by independent means. The basic meter does not require an external power source for its operation. KIt has relatively few parts andis `designed for inline installation. This results in a mass flow meter which is simple, rugged, compact and reliable.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a mass flow meter which generates two signals from which mass flow can be determined.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mass flow meter which may be employed to measure the mass flow rate of fluids, either liquid or gas or a combination.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mass ilow meter which may be installed directly in a conduit carrying the fluid to be measured.

,A further object of the invention is to provide a mass flow meter which may be employed as a control element, a monitor -or a summing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mass flow rmeter which does not require external power for its operati-on. y,

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mass ilow meter of the turbine type employing a free-running turbine that operates at a runaway condition toV generate a iirst signal, a second turbine which generates a second signal against a load which is a kno/wn function of its speed, and flow decoupling means intermediate to the turbines.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon United States Patent O 3,201,987 @Patented Aug. 24, 1965 considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Basic meter structure Referring now to the drawings, in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIGURE l is an elevational view, partially in longitudinal cross-section, of a iiow meter of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the flow meter of FIG- URE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of a flow meter of the invention and its associa-ted correlation means,

yReferring again to the drawings, the ow meter constituting the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a casing 111 in which is mounted a first turbine rotor 12, a flow decoupling device 1-3, and a second turbine rotor 14.'

The casing 11 may be provided with flanges at each end or other suitable means for connecting it with conduits and includes an inlet section 16, a decoupling section 17 and an outlet section 18. Although the meter 10, as will be pointed out hereinafter, is capable of accepting flow in either direction, the sections 16 and 1S are referred to as inlet and outlet sections, respectively, in the interest of clarity. A plurality of high solidity vanes 20 are mounted in the inlet section 16 to rem-ove swirl from the flow, dampen large scale turbulence and minimize flow distortions. Also, the vanes 2t) form an inlet stator blade row to the first turbine rotor 12. A second set of high solidity vanes 21 is mounted in the decoupling section 17 to form the flow decoupling device 13 which prevents cross-coupling, removes swirl induced in the flow by the lirst turbine rotor 12 and also 4prevents any flow distortions which might be induced by the rotor 14 from influencing the first turbine rotor 1-2. In addition, the second set of vanes 2'1 forms the inlet stator blade row of the second turbine rotor 14. A third set of high solidity vanes 22 is mounted in the outlet section 1S to smooth the flow leaving the ilow meter 10. It is to be noted that, while high solidity vanes are not usually employed in the outlet sections of such devices, they are employed in the outlet section of the meter of the present invention to adapt it to accept flow in either direction. Each turbine rotor 12, 14 includes a plurality of blades 25, which are fabricated from magnetic type materials, and an integral shaft 26 which is rotatarbly mounted in a set of bearings 27. While an even num- Iber of blades and vanes are shown for clarity, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that a pri-me number is preferably lemployed in actual practice. The bearings 27 are mounted in bearing housings 218 which are sup-ported within the casing 11 by means of the flow-straightening vanes.

A first signal coil 30 is mounted in a housing 31 having an externally threaded portion 32 adapted to engage an internally threaded lrecess 33 in the sidewall of the casing 11 adjacent the tips of the blades 25 of the first rotor 12. A second signal coil 34 is mounted in a housing 35 having an externally threaded portion 36 adapted to threadedly engage an internally threaded recess 37 which is mounted in the casing 11 adjacent the tips of the blades 25 of the second rotor 14. A load coil 40 includes a calibration -adjustment 41 which is shown schematically as an eccentric type adjustment and which may be employed to adjust the coil 4) by reducing the number of acting turns. This adjustment is done before using the meter for the first time to compensate for any errors introduced into the system due to manufacturing inaccuracies. The coil 40 is mounted in a housing 42 having an externally threaded portion 43 threadedly engaging the internal threads of a recess 44 in the casing 11 adjacent the tips of the rotor blades 25 of the rotor 14. Electrical Vleads 45 are provided on each coil 30 and be determinedj measuring, monitoring or summing devices.

The casing 11, vanes 20,21 and 22, shaft 26, housings Y L28 and similar elements are made ofa suitable non-magf vand circuitry which may be employed with the`flow meter 10 are contingent on the type of signal generated and the Vapplication of the meter, i.e., a monitor, a summing device ora control element. For purposes'of illustration,

4but not of limitation, 'the read-out equipment shown inl cludes gatesS which are connected to the coils30 V'and f 34 to connect themVto-suitable 34 to receive the digital signals therefrom-' vA time base 51 is eonnectedto the gates 50 to actuate the gating cir`` cuit. VSignals are fed from the gates 50 to pulse counters v52. At the end of the sweep the resulting counts Vare fed into cod-ers 53 frornewhich coded counts Vare vfed into a'- signal from the computer is then fed into a mass flow totalizerl55, a mass flow rate display S6 and a comparator TlJze-oy of operation f the dervcen :For a fixed orifice system, a turbine underno'load con-v 'computer 54lwhich computes the mass flow. The. output dition runs at a runaway speed'and under load atanother, f

but slower speed. `The speed under load depends upon.` V the magnitude ofthe load andthe power-generating abil- The power-generating ability of a fixed' ity of the turbine. orifice turbine is a function of only the turbine mass now and therotational velocity. If a load which is aV known 'function of turbine speed is imposed'on the turbine and the ratio of the turbine runaway speed to its loaded speed vis known, then the'mass flow rate of the `drivin g fluid can The s'peedsof turbines'lZfand 14'aredeterminedffrom the generated frequency ofthejelectrical coils 30 and,34. These generatorsY are designed tojemit VreadableV "signals f with negligible power consumption. v Therotor blades 25y are 'of a magnetic material, whichy in passing the coils'.30 and 3,4, which are also of magnetic-type materials, causeV a changein the ilux linkages of the coils. This nun pulsing, generates a fluctuating voltage in each coil,whichfi s the required signal; However, though the signal voltage is proportional to the rotor speedQit is *thevoltage fre quency that ,-is used to determine the'rotor speed. Since rotors. 12 and.1v4`eachhav'e a fixednumberof blades, z, the electricalsignal frequency, f= k1zN whereA kl is a constant and N is rotational speed.,

The second 'turbine rotor 14 is loaded by'means of a second'but `much larger induction (eddy-current) .coil 40,

whichimposes a measurable load on they turbine 14. The power is dissipated in the coil circuit.v The load circuit vis sized so thatthe reactance is negligible for the .desired operating range. j In this instance, then,the'5powerload is directly proportional tothe square vof the voltage and a' since the voltage is .directlyproportional to the frequency and hence the rotorV speed, .the load power isV directly pro'- portional to the :square of the frequency, i.e., turbine power.Phl,=k`2(f14)2, where k2V is aicons'tant. l Y' g The exactequation for this type loadi f g device over`v a bine frequency h4, times a constantkz, then where k5 is ra constant., Y

l Operationy of the device ble, this'rotative speed is the `turbine runaway speed.

The-turbine 1'4r and coil 34, as a'unit, form the load speed signal generator with coil 34 being identical to coil 30. The turbine 14 and .coil 40 `form the load generator which imposes Aa' measurable power load .o n' rotor 14 V(the loadimposed by coil 34'y being negligible).l ySince this "power load is onlya` function of frequency and, hence,

only a function of rotor speed, the flow impinging on turvbine-14 r ':auses it to rotate ata speedA determined bythe Vmass rateof the flow andthe magnitude of the load.

' While the particular flow meter herein shown and depreferred embodiment of theinvention and that no limitations' are intended to the details of construction or design i hereinjshown other than as defined in the appended' claims.

very broadroperating range is a more-complexfequation,

but it is still only a function of frequency, i.e PhDs-3b( f1.1). Thus the applicableloading equation is contingent upon fthe desired operating range and the-desired accuracy with-l inY this range. It can beV proven that the general massflow rate equation'for the'meter of this invention is.' Y 1- 1where k3 and k4`areconstants. If the'turbinesxlland 14 L v What is claimed is:

1. A meterv for measuring comprising: l f' a casing fordirecting the flow of said uid; 1

a firstffree running-turbine'mounted in said casing for -rotationby incoming fluid;V v

av secon-d turbine rotatably, mounted a-ty a location in said' casingfspaced from' said 'first turbine means forloading. said secondv turbine vwith aload which is a known function ofthe rotative speed vofv said second turbine when' rotated by the fluid leaving said lfree running turbine; a.

the massflow rate of a uid VVflow' decoupling'means mounted in saidjcasing'intermediate to `said turbines. for `decoupling each-turbine from flow distortion'produced by the other tur- Vbine; v means for measuring thespeed ofeach of ksaid turbines;

and@ means responsive to said measuring rr'neans for obtaining theratio'of said 'speeds fromV which'the mass flow rate of saiduid can be derived. 2 .5Amass owmeter'comprising: n a casingl for directingfa'uid the mass ilow rate Aof which is tobe measured; afirstfr'ee running turbinemounted in rotation bysa-id fluid;l j a secondturbine separately mounted in said'casing ..forrotation' by uid leaving said frst turbine; means for placinga load upon -saidV second turbine v' whichV is a known Vfunction of the `speedof said secyond,turbine; s l '..vane means mountedinl said casingtintermediate said fturbine'sI for`decoupling each of said turbines from flow distortion Aproduced, by the other turbine;

said casing for first signalfl generating means responsive Y to. movement of saidzfirst'tu'rbine forlg'eneratinga'signalwhich is "1', second signal generating meansresp'onsive to movement are designed so that/c4 isgequal toene, andsincev turbine`- power Php, is also'proportional to the square of the"tur-i .l afunction'of the veloc'ty imparted to said rst tur- 5 bine' by said fluid;V Y

of saidfsecondturbine for generating asignal lwhich is a function of the velocity imparted to saidY second f y. turbineby said fl1.1id;and"5l Y @means responsive itofsaid firstl and secondv generating agence? means for obtaining the ratio of said signals from which the mass flow rate of said luid can be derived. 3. The low meter of claim 2 wherein rst magnetic means is secured to a peripheral portion of said rst turbine and said first signal generating means includes a second magnetic means -secured to said casing -in flux coupling relationship with said rst magnetic means. 4. The flow meter of claim 2 wherein first magnetic means is secured to a peripheral portion of lsaid second turbine and said second signal generating means includes a second magnetic means secured to said casing in llux coupling relationship with said first magnetic means.

' 5. The flow meter of claim 3 wherein second magnetic means is secured to a peripheral portion of said second turbine and said second signal generating means includes third and fourth magnetic means secured to said casing in uX coupling relationship with said second magnetic means.

6. The flow meter of claim 2 wherein said means for placing a load upon said second turbine comprises:

magnetic means secured to a peripheral portion of said second turbine; and an induction coil secured to said casing in flux coupling relationship vwith said magnetic means to form ran element of a load circuit, said load circuit having a negligible reactance at the design operating speed of said second turbine. 7. The flow meter of claim 2 wherein the means for obtaining the ratio of said signals comprises:

a' gating circuit electrically connected to said first and second signal generating means; kka time base for actuating said gating circuit; ypulse counting means for receiving signals from said gating circuit; coding means for coding pulses received from said pulse counting means; and computing means computing the ratio of said coded pulses. 8. A meter for measuring the mass iiow rate of a iluid owing in a conduit comprising:

a first free running turbine rotatably mounted in said conduit; a second turbine rotatably mounted in said conduit at a location spaced from said first turbine; flow decoupling means mounted in said conduit intermediate to said turbines for decoupling each turbine from flow distortion produced by the other turbine; means for coupling a load to said second turbine which is a known function of the rotative speed of said second turbine; means for measuring the speed of each of said turbines;

and

means responsive to said measuring means for obtaining the ratio of said speeds from which the mass ow rate of said fluid can be derived.

9. A mass flow meter comprising:

a casing having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an intermediate portion;

a turbine rotatably mounted in each of said inlet and outlet portions, each of said turbines including blades of magnetic material;

flow decoupling means mounted in said intermediate portion for decoupling each turbine from liow distortion produced by the other turbine;

an electrical signal generating means mounted on said casing in ilux coupling relationship with each of said turbines; and

an electrical power generating means mounted on said casing in ilux coupling relationship with said outletportion turbine to produce a load thereon which is a known function of the rotative speed of said outletportion turbine.

10. A meter for measuring the mass oW rate of a iiuid flowing in a conduit comprising:

a iirst free running turbine rotatably mounted in said conduit;

a second turbine rotatably mounted in said conduit at a location spaced from said lirst turbine and comprising a plurality of blades each having a portion of magnetic material;

means for coupling a load to said second turbine which is a known function of the rotative speed of said second turbine;

said load comprising a variable reluctance generator located to be responsive to said magnetic blade portions as the blades move past said generator;

means for measuring the speed of each of said turbines;

and

means responsive to said measuring means for obtaining the ratio of said speeds from which the mass flow rate of said fluid can be derived.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,188 2/03 Seidener 73-194 3,043,138 7/62 Waugh 73-194 3,144,769 8/64 Francisco 73-231 FOREIGN PATENTS 860,657 2/ 61 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner. 

10. A METER FOR MEASURING THE MASS FLOW RATE OF A FLUID FLOWING IN A CONDUIT COMPRISING: A FIRST FREE RUNNING TURBINE ROTATABLE MOUNTED IN SAID CONDUIT; A SECOND TURBINE ROTATABLE MOUNTED IN SAID CONDUIT AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM SAID FIRST TURBINE AND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF BALDES EACH HAVING A PORTION OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL; MEANS FOR COUPLING A LOAD TO SAID SECOND TURBINE WHICH IS A KNOWN FUNCTION OF THE ROTATIVE SPEED OF SAID SECOND TURBINE; SAID LOAD COMPRISING A VARIABLE RELUCTANCE GENERATOR LOCATED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO SAID MAGNETIC BLADE PORTIONS AS THE BLADES MOVE PAST SAID GENERATOR; MEANS FOR MEASURING THE SPEED OF EACH OF SAID TURBINES; AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID MEASURING MEANS FOR OBTAININ THE RATION OF SAID SPEEDS FROM WHICH THE MASS FLOW RATE OF SAIF FLUID CAN BE DERIVED. 